Chapter Twenty-Seven
This late at night, the only place Rin knew she would still find people readily available, was the diner. She didn’t even bother pulling into a space, just came to a screeching, sliding halt in the middle of the road and threw the little sedan in park.
Running as fast as she could, she burst through the doors of the diner and was actually relieved to smell bear. Her eyes went straight to the couple seated at a booth sharing a pie and the male immediately stood, concern written all over his strong features.
Rin could barely get the words out, was panting, but she managed to lift her arm and point toward her car outside. That was all the incentive the bear – and over half the patrons in the diner – needed before they were rushing out the door.
Completely spent, Rin’s knees buckled and she sat heavily on the floor while she tried to catch her breath. A glass of water swam before her slightly blurred vision and she blinked. Lucy, the co-owner and one of the waitresses here at the diner, was crouched beside her. “Come on, sweetie, take a sip.”
Rin suddenly realized just how thirsty she was and she snatched the glass and drank deeply, the cold liquid dribbling down her chin in her haste.
“Easy, now, slow it down.” Lucy murmured, her hand coming to Rin’s back to rub little soothing circles.
Sucking in a much needed breath after guzzling down the water, Rin tipped her head back. “Is he okay?” Her voice sounded strange to her ears, deeper, scratchier, and so tired.
Rin sensed Lucy pushing up slightly from her crouch to look out the windows. “I see Christian Black out there, he’s standing with his brother’s help and holding something to his head, but I’d guess he’s probably going to live." The older woman sat down fully on the floor next to Rin with a slight grunt. “Want to tell me what happened?”
Rin gave her the condensed version, explaining only how she saw the car off the road and tried to help, omitting the part about driving back from some illegal fighting and gambling ring.
Lucy gave her a pat on the arm. “I’m sure Tim – he’s our local paramedic – will be able to patch him up just fine.”
Rin had to swallow the snort that rose up in her throat. She hadn’t seen him there, but more than likely Tim was with Mike, counting out his share of their ill-gotten gains.
“You look whooped, sweetie.” Lucy offered gently, “Do you want me to call someone to come get you? I know The Cedars is just across the road, but I’m sure David would be more than willing to come pick you up.”
Rin shook her head and pushed herself up off the floor. No, she didn’t want to go to The Cedars, and she didn’t care how tired she was. She was done being a coward and avoiding her problems. She had managed to face her fears tonight and actually rescue a bear shifter. She could do this. Tomorrow she would face her uncle and deal with whatever had brought him here, but tonight she would confront Mike. He had told her he loved her. Now it was time for him to prove it and stop lying to her.
Mike hissed out an expletive as he flexed his swollen knuckles. Bastard had had a torso like solid rock. Tim was off collecting their winnings, and Mike scanned the crowd. He could have sworn he had picked up Rin’s scent earlier, just for a moment as the air currents had shifted in the large warehouse. He hadn’t been able to let it distract him then, but now he looked for her, hoping he had been wrong, but the twisting of nerves in his gut didn’t bode well.
He never wanted her to know about this side of his life. He did it because he needed the money, and he was good at it, but he certainly didn’t enjoy it. In fact, he had every intention of quitting as soon as his nest egg had a little more padding. Then he could wash his hands of this business, but still have a comfortable cushion to keep his shop running. Not to mention the added incentive of buying Rin nice things. She deserved to be pampered with little gifts and he looked forward to spoiling her – something he wouldn’t be able to do with the meager bit of money the garage brought in.
Wrecker service paid pretty well, but that was unreliable. Sometimes he could go weeks without a call, especially in the summer months. No, a couple more fights like this one tonight, and he’d be able to quit for good.
Mike was smiling slightly as he imagined Rin’s look of surprise when she opened a present from him, something wrapped fancy from a jewelers store – maybe a charm bracelet – he bet she would like something delicate and pretty like that. Then he recalled how she always seemed to reach for her chest when she was agitated. A necklace, perfect, something she could grab onto and hold in those moments when she needed to hold something other than him.
“You ready?” Tim’s booming voice shook Mike from his daydreams and he grunted, half tempted to see if a jeweler was open right now, knowing that he’d be disappointed.
With a sigh, he nodded and they set out to where the car was parked, well away from the warehouse and the possibility of theft of damage. The cold felt good, the snow that had lightly started to fall making the area look much better than it actually was.
Mike cleared his throat, his belly tightening with trepidation. “Did you, ah, did you see Rin tonight in the crowd?”
Tim looked at him sharply and frowned. “No. Why, did you? Why the hell would she come here? This place is too rough for such a little squirt.”
Mike growled, indignant on Rin’s behalf. “She’s a lot tougher than you’d think.” He shook his head, running his hand through his hair in agitation and then wincing when his knuckles started throbbing once more. “I didn’t see her. I thought I caught a hint of her scent.”
Tim threw back his head and let out a bark of laughter. “That’s a mated male for you. Can’t be away from your female for more than an hour without going nutty and scenting her around every corner. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
Mike snorted. “You make it sound like I should be upset to be mated.”
Tim shot him a side eye. “There’s a reason they call it a ball and chain, you know.”
“Speak for yourself. I couldn’t be happier than I am with Rin.”
Tim snorted and clutched at his chest before batting his eyes, “Does Rin complete you?”
Mike threw what should have been a playful punch, once again forgetting his knuckles and let out a loud curse that sent Tim into another round of laughter. “Asshole,” Mike muttered, tucking his injured hand under the opposite arm, “But yes, she does complete me, so suck it.”
Tim continued to laugh all the way to the car. Then growing serious as he settled into the driver’s seat, he shot Mike a hopeful expression, “Dunkies?”